MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra has suffered two numbing defeats and simply doesn’t want further disappointment as the Gin Kings play the Alaska Milk Aces in the Saturday showcase of the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup two-game swing at the Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai.
The most sought-after team by the OFWs in the UAE capital as anywhere in the world, the Gin Kings hope to live up to high expectation as they tangle with the Aces at 7 p.m. (12 midnight in Manila).
As of posting time, the Aces were playing the Mahindra Enforcers in the kickoff of a fifth double-header the PBA has brought over to the business, leisure and sports capital in the Gulf region.
Ginebra was also featured in the main game in each of the four previous PBA visits in Dubai.
“Anywhere in the world, our OFWs are asking and waiting for Ginebra,” said PBA president/CEO Chito Salud.
The Gin Kings hope they’re able to do their part to bring cheers to the OFWs although they’re still going through learning curves under new coach Tim Cone.
“We’re not where we want to be at this point. We’ve adopted well to what we do in practice, but come game time and under the bright lights, we haven’t learned to keep our discipline,” said Cone.
“But I am very happy with players’ effort. We know we’d need to be patient. We still have a lot of work to do,” Cone added.
Cone said they’re very much okay even with the sorry back-to-back losses to the Star Hotshots and the Barako Bull Energy.
“It’s certainly not panic time,” Cone said.
The Gin Kings were badly stunned as they blew away a huge 21-point lead and went down beaten by the Energy, 79-82, last Saturday.
The Energy upended the Gin Kings, 82-79, in the biggest upset in the tourney thus far, negating a monster game by Greg Slaughter and keeping Ginebra winless in two games under Cone.
In their season debut, the Gin Kings bowed to the Hotshots and their new coach Jason Webb, 78-86.
Joe Devance, a transferee from the Star Hotshots along with Cone, said they have to learn their system quick so as not to be left behind by the other teams.
“We’re fighting an uphill battle but I have no doubt we can get it together,” said Devance.
“But we have to try to hurry up and take it to another level because teams are really good right now. And we can’t take team for granted as we just lost to Barako Bull,” he added.